Tuesday, April 11th, 2006
Over a century ago,
There was a sax player called Charlie Parker.
He seemed to be the first man to play without using sheet music.
In other words,
He was tired of playing the same thing and started adlibbing and playing in his own style.
The music that he started eventually came to be called Bebop
Monday, April 10th, 2006
When injustice happens in the world, most Christians often say things like:
“God has a plan for everything”
“We don’t know why… but this is part of God’s plan for you”
When the Twin Towers fell, the blanket statement was “it was part of God’s plan.” It was His providence. We say such empty phrases when others are feeling down and out. Does it really cheer them up? I don’t think so. Instead they just beat themselves up, trying to find out what they’ve done to receive this kind of punishment.
But why do we say these kinds of things? I mean is it really part of God’s plan? How can we assume that we know what God is doing, being only finite beings and He infinite.
We often ask God; why? When things don’t go our way, we doubt, we question. Why does He help others, but not me? Why is it that the woman across the hall miraculously survives a fatal car crash, but I am left in a wheel chair for the rest of my life? How come a drug addict gives birth to a healthy baby, and yet a healthy woman loses her child at birth?
Why does it seem that God arbitrarily sticks His finger into our lives? Why doesn’t God answer my prayer?
Is it because God can’t help us, or is it because He doesn’t want to.
Well it’s definitely not because God can’t, because God is omnipotent. So therefore it must be because God doesn’t want to. And since we know God, as a God that knows what is ‘best’ for us, we tend stick to this “blueprint view” of life – where anything and everything that happens to us is part of His perfect plan for our lives.
Don’t get me wrong, I used to think that too. It’s a popular belief, just like how the sky is blue. But seriously, do you think that God enjoys seeing us suffer? Does God enjoy putting us through hardships and pain? He, who is the ultimate being of love beyond human imagination, can’t possibly wish to cause us grief. (For your own interest read the book of Job. Job’s friends also adopt this ‘blueprint’ view of life but are later rebuked.)
So if it isn’t part of God plan, then why? If God wants to help us, then is it because God can’t? (Which of course seems kind of outrageous, right?)
Well, if I drew a circle then logically it is not a triangle. A circle does not have 3 sides, so therefore when I chose to draw a circle; I also, chose not to draw a triangle. No more can a married man be a bachelor. Likewise, when God chose to create us in this ‘world’, He also chose not to create any other kind of world. He didn’t choose to create a world where His will would reign supreme. He didn’t make a world where we had no freedom. The moment He chose to create us, He also chose not to make us any other way.
God chose to have a relationship with us. Like any other relationship, both parties must be able to relate to each other, through some sort of medium; a medium that doesn’t change. Simply put, if I desired to have a relationship with someone via mail, the paper would have to remain the same in order for them to relate to me. Sure, folding the piece of paper would be fine. But it has to remain the same to a certain degree; if the paper was shredded into tiny bits, I doubt that he/she would be able to decipher my original message. So in order for God to have a relationship with us (1) we must interact through a stable medium (the earth) and (2) no party can fully influence this medium. Because a relationship works both ways and it isn’t a relationship if one party dominates the other.
So back to where we started. God chose to have a relationship with us; by doing this He created a world with order. This is also known as the Natural Laws. If I wake up one day with gravity, and the next without; the world would be in chaos and we would have a hard time relating to one another, never mind God. There is no standard, if an object is red one day and blue the next. Therefore, when God chooses not to part the red sea for you, it isn’t because He doesn’t want to, it is just that the circumstances prevent Him from doing so, or more straightforward – He won’t.
In essence it’s like He created ‘rules’ for this world. Sure, He is able to do supernatural things, but every action has an equal and opposite reaction. It’s like the butterfly effect, where the flap of a butterfly’s wings can potentially create a hurricane half way around the world. There are so many unknown factors in the world, that in our ignorance, we demand God do something supernatural for us. And we kick and scream when He doesn’t. In reality though, He does miracles everyday. Just not in a way where it affects the order of our world; when a non-believer comes to Christ, I consider that a miracle. Wouldn’t you?
Secondly, God created us to be free. He gave us free will and later sent His son to set us free under the laws. We are free to do whatever we want. By choosing to create beings with free will, He chose not to create robots. We have irrevocable freedom. We are not under the illusion that we have a choice. He can influence us and guide us; however, no matter what, we have the final say. Thus, He is unable to help us whenever His actions interfere with our free will. Yet again, it is not because He doesn’t want to help us, but that under the circumstances – He won’t.
As finite being, we are ignorant to the complexity of this world. No matter how hard we try, we will never fully understand. We are unaware of the all the Spiritual warfare that occurs around us. In the book of Daniel an angel was late when delivering a message, not because God deemed it alright to be late; but that a war between heaven and hell delayed him. We ask for unreasonable things, like a child. And God can’t work miracles all the time; even seemingly simple miracles can leave a large impact on others; just like how a rock can leave ripples in its wake when tossed into a pond.
One can say that God made these rules preventing Him from helping us. Does that mean God purposely let us suffer? Did He make us – knowing all this? Should we blame God for deciding to make a world with suffering and pain? Is God to Blame?
Firstly, can we blame the parents for the actions of their adult child? No. The parents are not responsible for their actions, and similarly God is not responsible for the decisions we make. We are free, and God cannot change that. If we are to blame anybody, we have nobody else to blame but ourselves.
Also, God made us fully aware of the future and what kind of world it was going to be like. Therefore, He must have considered the cost of love worth it. You could argue otherwise, but the fact that you wake up everyday means that you appreciate life. When parents decide to bring children into the world; or give life knowing what kind of world it is – it proves that love is worth the risk as well. We affirm God’s decision on a daily basis, so should we blame God? Do we blame our parents for bringing us into this world without our consent? If so – why do we continue living? If God thought it was worth it, then shouldn’t we as believers put our trust in that?
Although, if we wanted to point our fingers at someone. It definately would not be at God. Though God is not morally culpable for creating a world where evil occurs, God takes responsibility for evil. Even though God is not morally responsible, He voluntarily suffers evil in order to free creation from it. Even if we were to blame God, we can’t blame him for not giving us a way out.
If your interested, pick up a copy of the book Is God to Blame? I found it to be an interesting read.
Thursday, April 6th, 2006
Everyday, after work, I catch the same subway home, at the same time, on the same car. As soon as the clock hits 3:30pm, I throw my coat over my shoulders and head for the doors.
On the subway, I probably end up standing in the same spot without knowing it. I don’t mean to make it a habit, nor a routine, but it just happens. I walk through the double doors and prop myself up against the far subway door, gently peering down the carraige of the car. Everyday it’s the same. People sleeping, people reading, people standing staring off into space. It looks like something out of a movie, it’s the typical “inside a subway” scene.
Life is very monotonous on the ride home. Nobody socializes, nobody smiles. They all just stare back at me, as if work has sucked the life out of them – I catch a glimpse of my reflection on the glass beside me, and I too looked very tired. But I certainly didn’t feel that way. Why am I acting this way?
The doors open at Eglinton, and I see a guy from the day before – he steps in and take his place beside me. As usual, he manages to manoeuvre his way right beside me. I remember his unique look, that moustache that reaches his chin, and that hat. That pirate hat with the RIP symbol plastered on the front. I try not to stare, so I use the reflection from the glass to take a better look. I really didn’t want to talk to him, infact I was a little scared. He could be holding a knife or something under that leather trench coat of his. And so I stand silently, off to one side, until he gets off at North York Centre. It’s been this way for a week now.
I’m sure he recognizes me, because I see him stare back at me sometimes. Must have been because I gave him a weird look the first time we met. Maybe he wants me to ask about his weird outfit. But, in the end I retreat back into my comfort zone. Just like the countless others in this sad train. Will I ever talk to him? I doubt it. Will others talk to me? Doubt it too.
I wonder how many other people I’ve shared this train with. Somedays, I try to guess what they’re thinking. Like why that girl is smirking, or why that guy looks so depressed. But I don’t think I’ll ever find out. I’ll only know what I’m thinking, and I have my hands full with that already. If I was able to tune into other’s thoughts, I think I would go crazy. Ignorance is bliss. But at the same time, ignorance makes us foolish. I just assume everyone is similar myself, but it’s never true.
Everybody leads their own lives. Oblivious to the others around them, safegaurding their own feelings; in our very own fortress of solitude.
In the end, I leave the station and head home, alone. I talked to no-one. I learned nothing about anybody either. Will I ever? Maybe, or perhaps never. We’re all lone cowboys in this urban city. It’s a shame. Life is so complicated and so beautiful, yet all we can see is me, myself and I.
We think we know everything. But we know nothing. I wonder if that will ever change. Scientists are curious about everything, except ourselves. I’ve known my friends for 15 years, and yet I still don’t know everything about them. I never will.
Humans are a foolish race, becuase life is too complex for us to understand. But we think otherwise.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength”
1 Chor. 1:25
Tuesday, April 4th, 2006
a moment too short,
a feeling too brief,
a lifetime too soon.
days pass by,
almost as easy as they come.
yet, whats the point in living
if nothing is going to change.
it’s already been a year.
a year…
and each year,
i look back and reflect.
i once heard,
the minute we’re born
we start dying.
but at the same time,
we start growing.
life is too short to wish,
to want, to waste.
live every second of it,
because life is but a moment.
today, i woke up
watched the sunrise.
thought about…
how i’ve changed,
how i’ve grown.
and how He’s
always remained constant
but you know,
life really is just a moment,
compared to eternity,
with our Heavenly Father
and the days here are but a memory,
for us here on earth.
enjoy life.
smile.
live.
love.
Monday, April 3rd, 2006
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:9-10
In His perfect time. Don’t give up.